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Team:
Chris ‘The Cat’ Murray (GK) Subs:
Johnny Raff (RB)
Gazza Stone (LB) Stu Evans
The Silver Fox (CB) Connor
Big H (CB) Little Si
Little H (RM) Paddy
Tom Zabel (LM)
Gaz (CM)
Carl (CM) Capt
Ant Grinrod (AMC)
Graeme (CF)
The first ever IFA game between FBFC and the Reading Fans brought some welcome returns to the A team for both Little Si and Stu and also saw paddy drafted in from the B team after some splendid performances.
Si had been out for 9 months with a back injury and Stu was back after gallivanting around the world for 6 months.
Bury had played Reading before in a friendly game and had been victorious, winning that game 5-1. Would this game follow the same path or would some questions be asked. Questions like:
Would The Cat keep another clean sheet?
Would Big H manage another shot on goal?
Will Gaz be able to keep a shot under the crossbar?
How would Stu do as referee?
The game started in glorious sunshine, Forever Bury FC playing in yellow and Reading looking resplendent in their bright white shirts. The Cat in Bury’s goal was wearing Red, and in a tactical decision, the Reading keeper had chosen to wear a green grass-effect top so as to camouflage himself with the pitch.
After the opening exchanges, it became very clear that this game wasn’t going to be an easy affair. Any chances that came were few and far between and could hardly be described as clear cut, a shot fired over the crossbar by Graeme from Gaz’s corner the only real chance worthy of a mention from the opening ten minutes.
With the game being played mainly in midfield, both sides were forced to taking chances from distance. An effort by Carl forced a corner to Bury, Gaz collected well on the edge of the area, turned, and fired just wide.
As a dense fog descended over Goshen, the Royals forced their first corner of the game as Gaz Stone went for the safety first option and knocked the ball behind.
One of our questions is finally answered – Gaz has a shot from distance and it stays well below the crossbar, but unfortunately for the Bury midfielder the ball sailed agonizingly wide of the post.
In the last chance of the first half, a good run and cross by Tom finds Graeme in an ideal position but again the ball went well over the crossbar.
Half time and a very close game remains 0-0.
Bury sub: Stu on for John. John now becomes the referee.
Shortly after the re-start, and Readings best chance, a seemingly nothing ball into the penalty area was met by a diving header from one of the Royals players, but despite his extravagant effort the ball went wide with The Cat stranded.
Ten minutes later and the deadlock was broken, after a tough midfield battle, one of the Reading midfielders took the ball into his stride 20 yards out and fired an effort on goal that left the Bury keeper with no chance. 1-0 Reading.
Moments later and a mix up in the Bury defence allowed the Reading striker to nip in and gleefully chip the ball over the outcoming Murray and double the Royals lead and leave the Shakers’ 10 game winning run in tatters.
A tactical switch ensued, and Ant was pushed further forward to join Graeme to make a 2-man attack force and leave the Shakers with a flat 4-4-2 formation.
Whether it was the change in formation, the shock of going 2-0 down or both, Bury started to show a bit more bite and more and more chances came their way.
A penalty area scramble ended with Little H shooting just wide.
The introduction of Little Si, who replaced Tom, followed and the diminutive winger immediately caused the Reading defence problems, closing down well and generally putting himself about.
It was on one of Si’s ventures forward that brought Bury back into the game. Finding himself confronted by 3 Royals defenders, he pulled the ball back to Stu who fired the ball across goal. Gaz hits a shot (yes another one that stayed below the level of the crossbar) (and with his left foot) which was deflected away for a corner.
Gaz himself took the corner, and a superb ball into the penalty box was met by the head of Graeme and Bury were right back in it. It was a superbly planned goal by the Shakers, as the understanding from set-pieces between Gaz and Graeme pays dividends once again.
A moment of controversy followed. Graeme gets the ball just past the halfway line on the right wing, being closely watched by an opponent. As he flicked the ball behind him and attempted to turn to run after it, the ball seemed to strike one of the players. Our view from the touchline was hampered by the players and therefore an independent opinion is out of the question.
Both players protested their innocence and blamed the handball on their opponent, but the final decision was given Bury’s way. Graeme himself took the freekick, and he hit it with pace straight into the visitors’ area. A superbly positioned Stu, who had ventured forward from his right back position, found the ball coming his way and stuck a boot out towards the ball. Agonisingly for the Berkshire side, the ball rolled over the line and gently rippled the back of the net, and Bury had found an unlikely equalizer.
Whether or not the ball took a deflection or not on it’s way in is debatable, however I’m sure you’ll find no argument from Stu who will be delighted to mark his return to the team with a goal.
Moments later the full time whistle went and the game had finished 2-2.
A much improved Reading side had undoubtedly given Bury their toughest game of the season, and in all honesty deserved to have left with all 3 points.
Reading were well organized and worked very well as a team. If they can keep performing like that they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with next season.
Apart from the last 10 minutes, Bury had looked a shadow of their usual selves, a lacklustre performance getting a 2-2 draw which they were extremely lucky to have got.
The sign of a good team is a team that can play badly and still not lose, and this sums up Saturdays result. No doubt Big H will rally the troops for next weekends game against Shrewsbury, a game which pits 2nd against 3rd and a chance for Bury to return to winning ways.
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